Story of Amir

By 22maruccot34

  • Amir is born

    Amir is born in 1963 and his mother dies due to childbirth. Amir later explains, "I had been raised by men; I hadn't grown up around women" (Hosseini, 170). Amir was never given the love and affection of a mother, which therefore affects his personality and well-being. Amir is selfish and cowardice due to his hard childhood.

  • Amir and Hassan's growing relationship

    The two friends share a complicated relationship. Hassan states to Amir, "For you a thousand times over" (Hosseini 67). To Hassan, Amir is a close friend, but to Amir, Hassan is a servant. Hassan shows that he would do anything for Amir, but Amir doesn't necessarily show the same affection.

  • The kite running tournament

    Amir witnesses Hassan's rape after the kite running competition. Instead of helping Hassan, Amir runs away and later states, "I ran because I am a coward" (Hosseini 77). At this moment, Amir falls into a deep hole of selfishness and cowardice. He becomes a narcissist who only cares for himself.

  • Amir's 13th Birthday

    For Amir's birthday, Assef gives him a "biography of Hitler" (Hosseini 94). This proves that Assef is a little "off". He has an extremely violent and evil nature. Moreover, Amir frames Hassan and tricks Baba into thinking that Hassan stole all his birthday gifts. As a result, Hassan and Ali quit working for Baba and leave.

  • Hassan and Ali's departure

    Because of Amir's lie, Hassan and Ali leave Baba's home. Baba "took Ali and Hassan to the bus station" (Hosseini 109). Even though Hassan did nothing wrong, he is still punished for Amir's actions. Ali and Hassan are in search of a home.

  • The Soviets invade Afghanistan and interrupt the peace

    Afghanistan was a fairly peaceful and prosperous country until "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist Babrak Karmal" (The New York Times).

  • The Impact of the Soviet Troops

    Because the Soviets wanted to preserve communism, they "stayed in the country for over nine years, fighting a conflict that cost them roughly 15,000 lives . . . while undermining the cherished image of an invisible Soviet Army" (The New York Times).

  • Baba and Amir move to California

    Due to the violence and war of Afghanistan, Baba and Amir "left Kabul just after two in the morning" (Hosseini 108). They hope for better lives in California. Baba and Amir become closer and discover new qualities about themselves.

  • Amir marries Soraya

    Soraya grasps Amir's attention by saying, "I heard you write" (Hosseini 164). Eventually, the two get married. However, it is discovered that Soraya cannot have children. Therefore, Baba and Amir never get the chance to become a good father and grandfather.

  • Amir meets Soraya

    Amir is introduced to Soraya. She is described as "a decent girl, hardworking and kind" (Hosseini 142). Amir learns to love and care for another individual through Soraya. They fall in love.

  • Baba passes away

    Amir realizes that "Baba doesn't have months to live" (Hosseini 171). Baba was diagnosed with lung cancer. Because of the diagnosis, Amir and Baba's relationship gets stronger. They grow closer with each other and learn to appreciate their many different qualities.

  • Baba passes away

    While on his death bed, Baba states, "There is no pain tonight" Hosseini 173). That night, Baba died peacefully in his sleep. Amir realizes that Baba truly did care about him.

  • Amir writes a book

    Amir uses his writing abilities to write a novel. People call him a "published novelist" (Hosseini 183). Baba helped him to recognize his talent of writing even after he died. It brought Amir and his wife success in America.

  • The Outcome of the Soviet Invasion

    In 1989, the Soviets abandoned Afghanistan, but left behind a country "devastated by the war but that had become a beacon to Islamic extremists from across the globe" (The New York Times).

  • The Rise of the Taliban

    The Taliban leader, Mullah Omar's first action was to "gather a small group of men and attack a group of warlords who have raped a girl and shaved her head" (The New York Times), which allowed him to gain 12,000 followers.

  • The Taliban Takeover Afghanistan

    By the year of 1996, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan "enforcing enforcement of fundamentalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing" (The New York Times).

  • The Taliban is Driven Out of Major Afghan Cities

    After the 9/11 invasion, the America united with rebel groups to create "an air and ground campaign [which] drove the Taliban out of major Afghan cities by the end of the year" (The New York Times).

  • Amir's meeting with Rahim Kahn

    Rahim explains to Amir that Hassan was his half-brother. He also tells Amir about Hassan's death and that he left behind his son, Sohrab. Rahim Kahn convinces Amir to go back to Afghanistan to save Sohrab by saying, "There is a way to be good again" Hosseini 365). Amir wants to change his ways and become a better person. Saving Sohrab is Amir's way of atoning for his actions to Hassan.

  • Amir's fight with Assef

    Amir rescued Sohrab and ran into Assef. Amir confronts Asse and "what he fished out of that pocket didn't surprise (Amir) one bit: Stainless-steel brass knuckles" (Hosseini 247). Amir laughed while he was getting beaten by Assef. He viewed this as a punishment for his treatment towards Hassan.

  • Sohrab attempts suicide

    Amir sees Sohrab and he was "breathing rapidly through his nose. The spool rolled in his palms, the tendons in his scarred wrists like rumba strings" (Hosseini 370). Sohrab attempts suicide because he is worried that Amir will send him to an orphanage. Sohrab had a very painful childhood and he feels that no one cares about him. Because of the trauma, Sohrab doesn't speak and barely ever smiles.

  • The Rise of the Karzai Government

    After the fall of the Taliban, Hamid Karzai took office in Afghanistan promising, "secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid" (The New York Times).

  • Amir and Sohrab bond

    One day, Amir and Sohrab fly kites together. Amir says to Sohrab, "For you a thousand times over" (Hosseini 371). Amir finally realizes how to care from someone else. He forgives himself for all of his mistakes and for the first time, Sohrab smiles.

  • The Taliban's Comeback

    Due to America's focus on invading Iraq, the Taliban managed to reconvene and "began to extend its influence in the southern part of Afghanistan. Their rise was assisted by the opium trade" (The New York Times).

  • American Troops are Withdrawn from Afghanistan

    Obama announced in a speech that 30,000 American troops are being removed from Afghanistan because "the United States could not afford and should not have to shoulder an open-ended agreement" (The New York Times).

  • America is still involved with Afghanistan

    The United States, however, still has "forces in the country until at least the end of 2014" (The New York Times).